A few days ago I wrote a post declaring my desire to let you get to know me better. And that is exactly what Tuesday Testimony is all about. I will tell you a little about myself every Tuesday until I run out of things to say. Which, by the way, I doubt will happen! 🙂
So, let me begin by telling you that I was born January 28, 1978 to a single mom. She was married at the time but the divorce became final a few months after I was born. I have a brother who is 7 years 11 months older and moved to live with our father when I was only eight years old. This happens to be the same year I met my biological father for the very first time. My paternal grandparents, biological father, and brother all live in Florida. And, excluding my brother, we all have a strained relationship. A few short months ago I contacted my grandmother through email and we have been keeping in touch. But, we hardly know each other at all. My grandfather and I have spoken sporadically over the last 20 years, but I love him nonetheless. My relationship with my father is difficult to explain and I’m still trying to work through it all and come to peace with the situation. But, my brother and I are pretty close considering our circumstances. We stay with him and his wife when we vacation in Florida and they stay with us when they come to Tennessee. We talk on the phone regularly, although I talk to his wife way more than him. But I love them dearly and am hoping that they will find their way back to Tennessee! (They are working on it)
My maternal grandparents were such wonderful people. They helped my mom to take care of me and my brother and for many years my grandfather was the daddy I never had and always wanted. That is until my mom met my step-dad. We’ll call him Papa Dave. Papa Dave and my mom met when I was seven or eight years old. They dated for a few years and were married in December of 1989. Let me back up just a little ~ my maternal grandparents both passed away in 1988 – just six months apart. This was devastating to me and was my first encounter with death. I still miss them.
Back to ’89 – I liked Papa Dave, but he was invading my space and stealing my mama!!! I gave him a really hard time at first, but was easily won over by his enormous heart. It was new to both of us, but we made it work beautifully. Of course, it wasn’t all roses all of the time but it was a beautiful relationship I will cherish for the rest of my life. I wrote a little about his passing here if you’d like to read it. It is still very painful after 10 years. And I am sure I will write about him more often.
My mom is a wonderful person with a gigantic heart and she has had some pretty hard knocks in her life. But, her motto is “Everything happens for a reason and this too shall pass!” I just love that about her. She is incredibly strong and she makes me proud! She truly is one of my very best friends and I can turn to her when I am at my wits end and she can fix me right up. She raised me with morals and faith in God and I will forever be grateful to her for that!
So, I’ve shared a little about me; mostly about my early childhood so far. But, like I said, I plan to make this a weekly thing. So, before you know it you will know way too much about me! 😉 Please feel free to ask me anything you’d like to know more about. I will gladly share with you! Thanks for taking time to read about my life!